JCU Logo

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 346"
COURSE NAME: "Study of the Works of a Single Modern Writer : Jane Austen"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Russell
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the work of one writer from the nineteenth century to the present. This course may be taken more than once for credit when different writers are studied.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

JANE AUSTEN:  In Her World and Ours


Students will read all of Austen's major novels and selections from the Juvenilia and letters, and will be expected to critique film adaptions of these books, as well.  Students will be exposed to a variety of critical approaches to Austen's work and will engage with these in class and in their research papers.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The course aims to have students understand both Austen’s debt to previous writers and her own significant contributions to the genre of the novel. By the end of the course, students should be able to appreciate the cultural and literary contexts from which these novels emerge and should have developed critical capacities to understand why they speak so enduringly to us today.  Students should also become aware of the act of reading and the process of translation of Austen's work from the page to film in their critique of a number of adaptations of these novels.

HONORS OPTION:  Students have the option to take this course for Honors credit, providing they meet the required GPA.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Mansfield ParkJane AustenBroadview Press 13:978-1-55111-098-1     
Pride and PrejudiceJane AustenBroadview Press 1-55111-028-8     
Sense and SensibilityJane AustenBroadview Press 13: 978-1-55111-125-4     
Northanger AbbeyJane AustenBroadview Press 13:978-1-55111-479-8     
PersuasionJane AustenBroadview Press 13:978-1-55111-131-5     
EmmaJane AustenBroadview Press 1-5511-321-X     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
3 Essays (8-9 pages each)Essays must be typed and conform to MLA style guidelines.60% (20% for each essay)
Group Seminar Presentation involving a film critique of an adaptation of one of the novels.A rubric for this assignment will be provided on the Moodle. 10%
Participation  10%
Final Exam 20%
Honors Component Assignment for those who are registered as Honors students onlyHonors students will do an extra project or assignment, to be devised together with the professor by week 3 of the course.Pass/Fail

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss more than three classes  -- whether absences are justifiable (religious holidays, illness, funeral attendance) or not -- will be required to produce an additional five-page essay assignment to be arranged with the instructor and due no later than the last week of classes, to avoid an overall reduction of their final grade for the class. Final grades are reduced by one grade level  once absences exceed three in a semester (an overall final grade of A- will change to B+, for example).  Should absences exceed six, students will be asked to withdraw from the class or will be required to do additional work beyond the extra essay assignment, to justify their participation in the course.  It is advisable to notify the professor by the beginning of the second week of classes, if you know you will be absent from class for religious or other reasons. Two late arrivals count as one absence.







Exam absences:  You cannot make up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until December 9, 2016. 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

JANE AUSTEN:  IN HER WORLD AND OURS

NOTE:  There is NO mid-term exam in this course.



HONORS STUDENTS: Those who take this course for Honors will have an extra assignment to be devised and agreed between student and teacher by the third week of class.



MOODLE COURSE: Please consult the Moodle for a more detailed syllabus, extra resources, and all assignments.

 

WEEK 1 

Tues. August 30

Introduction to course and its requirements: Who was Jane Austen and who is she now?

Thurs. Sept. 1

Read Lady Susan and selections from the Juvenilia on the website, particularly those writings Austen compiled in Volumes 1, 2 and 3:

http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/juviscrp.html

 



WEEK 2

Tues. Sept. 6 Playing with the gothic novel and the novel of sensibility

Read:  Chapters 1-10 of Northanger Abbey   



Appendix C:  Examples of Jane Austen's reading



Appendix D: Catherine Morland's reading


Thursday Sept. 8 

Read:  Chapters 11-20 Northanger Abbey



 

WEEK 3 

Tues. Sept. 13

Read:  Chapters 21 to end Northanger Abbey

Thurs. Sept. 15

Read:  Volume I of Sense and Sensibility



Appendix B:  Sensibility

 



WEEK 4  Make-up class this Friday

Tues. Sept. 20

Read:  Volume II of Sense and Sensibility

Thurs. Sept. 22

Read:  Volume III of Sense and Sensibility

Fri. Sept. 23 (Make-up day for Tuesday, Nov. 1)

View DVD Sense and Sensibility in library



SEMINAR Group 1 Critique of film version of the novel: 

 



WEEK 5      First essay due this week

Tues. Sept. 27

Read:  Volume I of Pride and Prejudice



Appendix B:  From the Conduct Books



Appendix C:  Burke on the French Revolution



Appendix D:  Discussion of Women’s Role after the French Revolution

Thurs. Sept. 29     First essay due

Read:  Volume II of Pride and Prejudice





WEEK 6

Tues.  Oct. 4

Read:  Volume III of Pride and Prejudice

Thurs. Oct. 6

Pride and Prejudice


WEEK 7

Tues. Oct. 11

View DVD Pride and Prejudice in library for today's class.



SEMINAR Group 2: Critique of film version of the novel. 

Thurs. Oct. 14

Read: Volume 1 of Mansfield Park



Appendix A: The Theatricals at Mansfield Park



Appendix B: Religion


WEEK 8

Tues. Oct. 18

Read: Volume 2 of Mansfield Park



Appendix C: Ideals of Femininity



Appendix F: A Woman’s Education



Appendix D: “The Improvement of the Estate”

Thurs. Oct. 20

Read:  Volume 3 Mansfield Park

Appendix E: The West Indian Connection


WEEK 9      Second essay due this week and Make-up day on Friday

Tues. Oct. 25  Essay due today

Read: Volume 3 Mansfield Park

Thurs. Oct. 27

Seminar 3:  Critique of film version of Mansfield Park

Friday Oct. 28 (Make-up day for Thursday, Nov. 24)

Read:  Volume I of Emma



Appendix A:  The Composition and Reception of the Novel



Appendix B:  Social Class and Landed Society



Appendix C:  The Landless:  Gypsies and Bastards


WEEK 10  

Tues. Nov. 1  No class

Thurs. Nov. 3

Read: Volume II of Emma


WEEK 11  

Tues. Nov. 8

Read:  Volume III Emma

Thurs. Nov. 10

Read:  To the end of Emma

WEEK 12

Tues. Nov. 15



View DVD’s of Emma and Clueless in library



SEMINAR Group 4:   Critique of film versions of the novel. 



Emma:



Clueless:
 

Thurs. Nov. 17  

Read:   Volume I  Persuasion



Appendix G  From Thomson’s The Seasons



Appendix H  From Walter Scott’s Marmion



Appendix I  From Byron’s “The Gaiour”

 



WEEK 13

Tues. Nov. 22

Read:  Volume 2 of Persuasion

Thurs. Nov. 24  No class - Thanksgiving holiday


WEEK 14   Third essay due this week

Tues. Nov. 29     Essay due today

Read:  Volume 3 Persuasion

Thurs. Dec. 1

SEMINAR Group 5:  Critique of film version of the novel: 

FINAL EXAMS December 3-9